Neshaminy Update

Dear Neshaminy Families, Students, and Staff:

I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer and found some time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy a slower pace. As we get closer to the first day of school, I’m excited to welcome everyone back for the 2026–2027 school year.

One of the best parts of this time of year is seeing our schools come back to life. Classrooms and hallways that have been quiet all summer will soon be filled with students and staff. Before long, buses will be back on the road, practices and rehearsals will be underway, and Friday nights at Harry E. Franks Stadium will once again bring our community together.

A great deal of work happens during the summer to make that possible. Our custodial, facilities, technology, transportation, and administrative teams have spent the past several weeks preparing our buildings, classrooms, buses, and systems for opening day. I want to thank them for the work they do—much of it out of sight—to make sure we are ready to welcome our students back.

Our academic focus remains centered on providing every student with meaningful learning experiences and a strong foundation for future success. We will continue to support high-quality instruction across all grade levels, respond to the individual needs of our students, and create opportunities for them to think critically, solve problems, collaborate, and grow as learners. Just as importantly, we want students to feel challenged, supported, and confident as they make progress throughout the year.

Of course, a school year is about much more than what happens during the school day. I encourage our students to get involved. Join a club, try out for a team, attend a performance, volunteer, or try something you haven’t done before. For our families, I hope you’ll find opportunities to attend school events, participate in PTO activities, and stay connected with your child’s school. Those connections matter and are an important part of what makes Neshaminy a community.

As the year gets underway, please keep an eye out for communications from your child’s school with schedules, dates, and other information you’ll need for a successful start.

Thank you to our families for the trust you place in us and to our staff for the care and commitment that you bring to our students each day. Most importantly, to our students: enjoy the rest of your summer. We’re looking forward to seeing you back in school and hearing about what you accomplish this year.

See you soon.

Sincerely,

Jason Bowman

Superintendent of Schools

This school year, all three Neshaminy middle schools are introducing schedule changes designed to provide students with consistent access to important learning experiences, dedicated time for support and enrichment, and expanded opportunities for exploration and choice as they progress through middle school.

In 5th grade, all students will now have two periods dedicated to elective and exploratory courses and a daily recess. Students will participate in Physical Education (PE) and PATH, a course designed to support student success, every other day throughout the year. They will also experience Music, Art, Business, Computers and Information Technology (BCIT), and Technology Education. Fifth graders will continue to have a daily Intervention & Enrichment period.

In 6th grade, students will take PE and PATH every other day throughout the year, along with Health, Music, Art, BCIT, and Technology Education.

In 7th grade, students will take PE and PATH every other day throughout the year and will also participate in Music, Art, BCIT, and Technology Education.

New this year, students in grades 6–8 will also have a dedicated Intervention & Enrichment period.

In 8th grade, the schedule provides students with increased opportunities for choice. All students will take PE every other day, along with BCIT and Health. Students will also have the opportunity to take a full-credit elective in Lights, Camera, Communicate!; AMP; Spanish; or French.

In addition, eighth graders were able to submit their preferences for two additional elective courses. New opportunities this year include PE Minor, Art Studio, Popular Music and Production, 8th Grade Choir, and Engineering Design and Innovation.

Together, these changes are designed to create a middle school experience that balances a strong academic foundation with support, enrichment, exploration, and student choice. As students move through middle school, they will have opportunities to explore different subjects and interests, with increased choice as they approach high school.

This year marks an exciting new chapter at Neshaminy High School as the school proudly launches its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. While PBIS has been a successful part of the district's elementary and middle schools for years, its introduction at the high school represents an important step in creating a positive, schoolwide culture for all students.

PBIS is an evidence-based framework that helps schools create a positive, predictable, and supportive learning environment by teaching, recognizing, and reinforcing positive behaviors. Rather than simply reacting to inappropriate behavior, PBIS emphasizes proactively teaching students what success looks like and celebrating them when they demonstrate those expectations.

At Neshaminy High School, the PBIS program is centered on three schoolwide expectations:

These expectations will be consistently taught, modeled, and celebrated throughout the school year in classrooms, hallways, extracurricular activities, athletic events, and all areas of school life.

Students will have numerous opportunities to earn positive recognition and rewards for demonstrating the core expectations of Respect, Responsibility, and Safety. Whether through daily interactions, classroom leadership, acts of kindness, or responsible decision-making, students will be acknowledged for contributing to the positive school culture. When students feel connected, valued, and recognized, the entire school community benefits.

Research has shown that strong PBIS programs help schools:

• Foster a stronger sense of belonging and school pride.
• Build deeper, more positive relationships between students and staff.
• Increase student engagement and motivation.
• Create a safer, more respectful learning environment.
• Promote positive decision-making and personal responsibility.
• Improve school climate and strengthen the overall school community.

The success of PBIS depends on the collective efforts of students, staff, families, and the community. Neshaminy High School greatly appreciates the support of parents, families, and community members as the school begins this exciting journey. By reinforcing the same expectations at home and throughout the community, everyone can help build a culture where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

School Motto

"Neshaminy High School, Where Respect, Responsibility, and Safety Shine."

As the inaugural year of PBIS begins, Neshaminy High School looks forward to celebrating student success, strengthening the school community, and creating a positive environment where every student can thrive.

TEACHER / CLASS / SCHEDULE ASSIGNMENTS (information posted on Home Access Center)

• Wednesday, August 12: Elementary schools
• Monday, August 17: Middle schools
• Monday, August 17: Transportation / bus schedules (all grades)
• Wednesday, August 19: High School

ORIENTATIONS

• Tuesday, August 18, 9:00 am: Neshaminy HS orientation #1 (last names A-K)
• Wednesday, August 19, 9:00 am: Neshaminy HS orientation #2 (last names L-Z)
• Thursday, August 20, 9:00 am: Middle school orientations
• Friday, August 28, 9:30 am: Elementary school kindergarten orientations
• Friday, August 28, 1:30-2:30 pm: Elementary classroom visitation (grades 1-4)

Attendance at orientation is not required but is highly recommended. Please contact the Main Office at your child's school if you cannot attend orientation and would like to seek alternate arrangements.

OPENING DAYS

• Monday, August 31: First Day of School, Grades K, 5 & 9
• Tuesday, September 1: All grades report

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS (see school websites and emails for specific times)

• Thursday, September 17: Neshaminy High School
• Thursday, September 24: Middle schools
• Wednesday, September 30: Tawanka ES only #1
• Thursday, October 1: All other elementary schools and Tawanka ES #2

SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON...

• Monday, September 7: Labor Day
• Monday, September 21: Yom Kippur
• Tuesday, November 3: Election Day
• Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day

Friday, October 30 is a half-day for all students.

Check the district and school websites for more important dates and events! A text version and printable poster version of the 2026-2027 Neshaminy calendar can be found by clicking on the calendar image below:

Whether you are new to the district or just looking for important information such as contacts, inclement weather procedures or a curriculum guide, check out the district's Newcomer's Guide at the link above.

Neshaminy Food Services offers a delicious, healthy breakfast and lunch at all schools at an affordable price. Research shows that students who eat healthy meals at school are more alert, ready to learn, and maintain focus on learning better.

School meals at Neshaminy meet the USDA’s requirements as students are encouraged to choose at least 3 of the 5 great choices including meat/meat alternative, bread/grain, fruit, vegetable, and milk. At breakfast, students are encouraged to select at least 3 of the 4 items. Each meal choice should include at least one serving of fruit or vegetable. Even the à la cart items meet the Smart Snack guidelines.

For the 2026–2027 school year, one school breakfast per school day will once again be provided free of charge to all Pennsylvania students. This is the fourth year in a row that the Commonwealth has funded universal free breakfast for schools.

For lunch, payment accounts are created online at www.schoolcafe.com. Lunch prices are the same as last year and are listed below. Families are encouraged to visit the Free and Reduced Priced Program website to see if they qualify for meal assistance based on household income. If approved, support is provided for the entire school year plus 30 days into the following year to provide time to reapply. All applications must be resubmitted yearly. See the video below for more information.

For the 2026–2027 school year, students who qualify for the REDUCED lunch price will receive their meals free of charge along with those that qualify for FREE lunch.

Daily menus, meal prices, snack prices, carbohydrate counts, the free and reduced priced meal link, contact information and much more can be found on the Food Services website.

While Neshaminy School District does not carry medical insurance for students, the district is pleased to offer the opportunity to enroll in a low-cost group supplemental insurance plan. For more information and forms, visit the student accident insurance information web page.

Neshaminy Kids Club is an independent partner organization that provides before and after-school care in Neshaminy elementary schools. For more information and registration visit www.neshaminykidsclub.org.

ELEMENTARY

The Elementary Summer Reading and Math Newsletter highlights our Summer Outdoor Adventure, Wild About Reading and Math initiative, along with resources shared with students before the last day of school.

This summer, we invite all elementary students to keep their skills strong while enjoying fun and engaging learning opportunities. Families will find information about our Summer Reading and Math programs, as well as helpful resources, videos, and links to support their child's learning.

Please note that while we highly recommend these activities, they are OPTIONAL and no completed work will be collected or graded when the new school year starts.

🔗 2026 Summer Outdoor Adventure: Reading & Math Newsletter

SECONDARY

To support continued learning over the summer, students may continue working on their assigned online learning programs.

• ELA (Grades 6–11): Students may continue working on their IXL Action Plans.

• Math (Grades 9–11, excluding Algebra 1): Students may continue working on their IXL Action Plans.

• Math (Grades 6–8 and High School Algebra 1): Students may continue working on their ALEKS Pie assignments.

In addition, optional summer math packets are available for high school mathematics students who are entering the courses below and would like additional practice:

🔗2026 Secondary Optional Summer Learning Opportunities

The Neshaminy instrumental music teachers will once again host Instrumental Music Discovery Night for parents and their young students interested in learning a string or band instrument. Parents and guardians can find out all about the award-winning music program at Neshaminy and details about musical instrument rentals. Their children can try the various instruments with the help of Neshaminy HS student musicians and Neshaminy music teachers to see what the best fit for them may be. This year’s Instrumental Discovery Night will be held on Monday, September 14, 7:00 pm at Neshaminy HS. The night is geared towards grades 3-6, but anyone is welcome to attend.

Summer is a good time to catch up on student vaccination requirements for the new school year. Please review the information below:

ALL NEW STUDENTS, RISING 7TH GRADE STUDENTS, and RISING 12TH GRADE STUDENTS (including NSDVA) must have updated immunization records prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year. We understand that annual appointments are difficult to schedule; therefore we encourage that you begin planning those appointments with your family’s medical provider now so there is no delay to the start of the school year for your child(ren). The Bucks County Intermediate Unit is offering two Bucks County vaccination clinics in August:

• Wednesday, August 19, Bristol Borough High School, 3:00-6:00 pm
• Wednesday, August 26, Quakertown High School, 4:00-7:00 pm

Pre-registration is recommended for Bristol and required for Quakertown.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to review their child's immunization status and submit updated documentation to your child’s school office as soon as possible to avoid any interruption of school attendance this fall. The link below can help guide you through your information needs regarding immunization requirements:

🔗 Neshaminy Vaccination Information Website

If there is any doubt or you are not sure that your child’s immunizations are up to date, you should consult your primary care doctor, pediatrician, or local health department for further guidance about what immunizations your student may need.

As a reminder to students and their families, the district enforces restrictions on personal electronic devices that include cell phones, tablets, smart watches and other such devices. The purpose of these restrictions is to lower distraction, prevent cyberbullying and allow students and teachers to focus on academics and activities during the school day. While students are permitted to bring these devices to school, the following rules apply:

• Elementary Schools: Students must turn off phones and smartwatches upon arrival, keeping them completely out of sight in backpacks.
• Middle Schools: Devices must be powered off before entering the building and stored in lockers through the end of the dismissal bell.
• High School: During class periods, devices must be silenced and placed in "cell phone pockets" found in each classroom. Students are permitted to use their devices between classes and at lunch only.

Exceptions to these rules can be made by teachers or administrators for specific purposes (such as health or safety reasons, a specific individual educational plan or a classroom activity that utilizes the devices) on a case-by-case basis. Additional policies on the use of electronic devices can be found at the links below.

🔗 Neshaminy School District Electronic Devices Policy

🔗Neshaminy School District Bullying / Cyberbullying Policy

TITLE 1 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS APPROVED

Five of the six Neshaminy elementary schools (Albert Schweitzer ES, Herbert Hoover ES, Joseph Ferderbar ES, Tawanka ES and Walter Miller ES) are identified at Title 1 schools based on household income levels in the areas that they cover. This federally funded program provides academic support to close achievement gaps among student demographic groups. Each school is required to prepare a detailed action plan that addresses specific school needs and outlines strategies for increased educational opportunities across all student groups. At the July 21 meeting, the Board approved the Title 1 action plans created for the 2026-2027 school year. These plans will also be posted on each school's website.

BOARD EXTENDS DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM WITH BCCC

Since 2018, Neshaminy has partnered with Bucks County Community College to offer a unique opportunity to gain college experience and credits while still in high school. The Dual Enrollment program has expanded since then to include more students who take two classes at the College each semester, including a required English and Humanities Course, while also maintaining three classes plus Physical Education at the high school. Students can earn up to 12 college credits which are transferable to most colleges and universities. The district provides school bus service to and from the BCCC campus in Newtown for these students. At the July 21 meeting, the Board approved a memorandum of understanding to continue this program for the 2026-2027 school year.

BOARD HONORS STATE CHAMPION BASEBALL TEAM

At the June 23 Board meeting, players and coaches on the state champion Neshaminy High School baseball team were honored for their victorious season. During the weeks following their final game, the team was also honored at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in both the Senate and House chambers.

The next full Board Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 18 at 7:00 pm. There is only one School Board meeting in August. All meetings are held in the District Board Room at Maple Point. The meeting video livestream, agenda and archive video of past meetings can be found at www.neshaminy.org/meetings.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Attending a committee meeting is a great way to interact with School Board members and district administrators in a less formal, more conversational setting. Committee meetings are held throughout the school year. The next committee meetings will be held starting in September.

All committee meetings are held at 6:30 pm in the District Board Room at Maple Point unless otherwise noted. Times and dates may change — please check the Neshaminy district website for updates.

As soon as the final bus departs on the last day of school - and usually before that - the Neshaminy Facilities Department begins work on a long list of summer projects. Aside from the usual work maintaining the fields and landscaping, stripping and waxing floors, repairing furniture and making sure that every classroom and common area is ready for the new school year, the Facilities crews completed a number of special projects that included:

• Major HVAC maintenance and unit replacement at the high school
• Classroom modifications at the high school and Carl Sandburg MS
• Removing additional locker banks in the Main Street hallway at the high school to improve student traffic flow
• Security enhancements including the installation of additional cameras
• New pool lighting at Carl Sandburg MS
• Installation of a new kitchen for the Life Skills program at the high school
• New sensory rooms for students receiving autistic support at Walter Miller ES, Joseph Ferderbar ES and Core Creek ES
• Interior painting at Poquessing MS
• Line painting and parking lot enhancements at multiple sites

Finishing work on the new snack stand and restroom areas is almost completed at Harry E. Franks Stadium and the facility will be ready for the start of the fall sports season.

Registration is still open for the 2026-2027 Pre-K Counts preschool program at Neshaminy. This is a grant program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that provides free, high-quality pre-kindergarten education to families who meet the age and household income criteria. Classes in the Neshaminy Pre-K Counts program are held at locations in the district, including in Neshaminy schools. To be eligible for the 2026-2027 PA Pre-K Counts program, children and families must meet the following criteria:

• Your child turns 3 or 4 by September 1, 2026.
• Your total household income may not exceed 300% of the federal income guidelines.

Click on the link below for guidelines and registration information.

🔗 Neshaminy Pre-K Counts Information and Registration

Neshaminy School District is looking for both certified and support staff for the 2026-2027 school year. Visit our employment website to see the available positions and complete an application or join us at one of our ESS Hiring Events to be held on dates TBA during the upcoming school year.

STUDENT SERVICES

Families are encouraged to visit the district website for information about the following important services and policies:

• Special Education Services
• Gifted Students
• Services for Protected Handicapped Students
• Destruction of Records
• Medical Assistance
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

HOMELESSNESS RESOURCES

Life is uncertain, but your child’s education doesn’t have to be. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act can help provide school stability for your child if you do not have a permanent home. More information is available here. Additional information and resources can be found on the district website here.

MEAL ASSISTANCE

Families in need of food assistance can take advantage of the following resources:

The Bucks County Opportunity Council Food Program

721 Veterans Highway

Bristol, PA 19007

Phone: 215-781-2661

🔗 Food Program: https://bcoc.org/food-program/

🔗 Food Pantries: https://bcoc.org/food-pantries/

🔗 Summer meal programs: https://www.fna.usda.gov/sfsp/sitefinder

The Bucks County HUB (“Live” Human Services Directory)

Phone: 215-348-6201

Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

🔗 Contact the Hub

The United Way 211 Helpline

Phone: Call 211

🔗 https://www.211.org/

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN NOTIFICATION

“Neshaminy School District has engaged Eagle Industrial Hygiene Assoc., Inc., to fulfill the requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E. This law requires that each Local Education Authority (LEA) engage EPA accredited individuals to initially inspect and subsequently reinspect every three years all student and staff accessed areas for the presence of both friable and non-friable asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and to develop an Asbestos Management Plan from the information developed from the building inspections. All areas of our facilities were inspected for asbestos-containing materials.

The Management Plan provides a description of the amount, type, location, and condition of all ACM found in these areas. The Plan also contains a detailed schedule of responses and activities for handling the ACM. The Management Plan is available for review by interested parents, faculty, and staff in all school offices during business hours."

For almost sixty years, Neshaminy has hosted one of the premier summer stock theater programs in the region. This year was no exception, with 236 student performers spending over three weeks at Neshaminy High School with a dedicated staff of theater educators preparing for three shows. The Main Stage show was School of Rock (grades 8-12); the Theater Workshop show was Matilda Jr. (grades 5-7) and the Showcase production for the youngest performers (grades 2-4) was an original musical, Hollywood Revisited, created by Summer Stock assistant director and Maple Point Middle School teacher Michael Nangle. Show week ran from Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26. Ticket sales were brisk with several sellouts for the performances.

This year for the first time, the Neshaminy Summer Stock offered two special pre-opening, sensory-friendly performances of School of Rock and Matilda, Jr. on July 21 and 22. These performances offered audience members who are sensitive to lighting, activity and sound and their families the opportunity to enjoy a modified version of each show that limits sensory elements. Reduced-price tickets were sold for these performances with proceeds going to area autism support groups.

Main Stage: School of Rock

Summer Stock Workshop: Matilda, Jr.

Summer Stock Showcase: Hollywood Revisited

During the summer, there isn't a week at Neshaminy where some activity or program isn't taking place. Below are some photos from this summer's activities, which included:

• Summer Stock theater program at Neshaminy HS (see article above)
• Summer PASS and Credit Recovery program at Neshaminy HS
• English Language Development at Core Creek ES
• Extended School Year at Maple Point MS
• Youth sports camps at Neshaminy HS and Maple Point MS

Girls Soccer Camp

Future Skins Football Camp

Boys Soccer Camp

Girls Basketball Camp

Field Hockey Camp

Boys Basketball Camp

This summer, Herbert Hoover Elementary School brought the joy of reading beyond the classroom by launching its “Lounge for Literacy” at the Langhorne Library. The event provided students and families with a fun, welcoming opportunity to reconnect with teachers and classmates while celebrating a love of literacy.

Held in small-group sessions, students shared their favorite summer reads, recommended books to friends, compared reading progress, were able to collect yearbook autographs, and showcased poems, stories, artwork, and other creative projects they completed over the summer. Families also had the opportunity to explore everything the Langhorne Library has to offer, including checking out books and signing up for library cards.

The Lounge for Literacy highlighted Hoover's commitment to fostering a lifelong love of reading while strengthening school-community partnerships. By bringing students, families, school staff, and the local library together, the event encouraged literacy, creativity, and meaningful connections that will continue into the new school year.

Herbert Hoover is proud to continue finding innovative ways to inspire students to read, create, connect, and grow all while building a strong community of Hoover Hawks.

Core Creek kept the reading going all summer with two events. On Wednesday, July 8, Core Creek families were invited to the Langhorne Public Library to sign up for library cards, enjoy read-alouds and learn about the library's summer reading programs. On Tuesday, August 11, the Oxford Valley Barnes & Noble store hosted Core Creek for a summer Book Fair.

During the first two weeks of August, the Neshaminy High School Marching Band began their preparations for the upcoming sports and band competition seasons.

• August 28 (Friday) — Emmaus — Home — 7:00 pm
• September 4 (Friday) — Manheim Township — Away — 7:00 pm
• September 10 (Thursday) — Quakertown — Away — 7:00 pm
• September 18 (Friday) — Central Bucks East — Home — 7:00 pm — Blue Out, First Responders Night, Elementary Cheer Night, Football Hall of Fame Induction Night
• September 25 (Friday) — Central Bucks South — Home — 7:00 pm — Gold Out
• October 2 (Friday) — North Penn — Away — 7:00 pm
• October 9 (Friday) — Abington — Home — 7:00 pm -- Homecoming, Alumni Cheer Night
• October 16 (Friday) — Central Bucks West — Away — 7:00 pm
• October 23 (Friday) — Pennridge — Away — 7:00 pm
• October 30 (Friday) — Pennsbury — Home — 7:00 pm — Senior Night, Pink Out

For all Neshaminy High School sports and activity schedules, visit the online calendar at the link below:

🔗 Skins Events Neshaminy HS sports and activities calendar

Neshaminy Update is published monthly during the school year and distributed to the Neshaminy community via email and web. To submit comments, suggestions or news items for consideration, please email Chris Stanley, Community Relations Coordinator.

Neshaminy School Board of Directors

Marty Sullivan - President

Tina Hollenbach - Vice-President

Erin Brosious

Kristin Egan

Jake Krause

Beth Marshall

Nicholas McGoldrick

Carlos Rodriguez

Jill Waldbieser

Contact Information

View Upcoming Meetings

Meeting Videos

Neshaminy School District

Superintendent

Jason Bowman

Assistant to the Superintendent for Educational Operations

Dr. Sean Haines

Assistant to the Superintendent for Elementary Education

Dr. Michelle Burkholder

Assistant to the Superintendent for Secondary Education

Dr. Kate Hinshaw

Assistant to the Superintendent for Pupil Services and Special Education

Dr. Kevin Kane

Business Administrator

Deborah Klahold

Director of Human Resources

Felicity Hanks

Neshaminy School District

2001 Old Lincoln Highway

Langhorne, PA 19047

www.neshaminy.org